Relay system



L. G. NIERMAN Feb. 9, 1954 RELAY SYSTEM Filed oct. 31, 1946 NY. EWE E w H H wm A N Wm. WN l m v\ Smm NNN WN Nm l ww QN wm XWIHWN QN. xQm M M n n f f f J J SNN WN xlmm x j r r r r r w s TQ:

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Patented Feb. 9, 19254 UNITED STA'lESlL PATENT GFF ICE RELAY SYSTEM',

Leonard'G'. 'Nin'erman',y Chicago, Ill, 4ass'ig'nor to the United'. States of.; America as representeailv by. theV` United States VAtomic Energy, Commission Application '()ctolnary 31, 1946, S'ral'No. 706,824

3 fCla-im'sr'. (Cl. 317-137.) .v

Thlsrinvention relates to relay systems, and more-particularlyto a novel electronicrelay system"'for actuating an electrically `operated device under desired conditions detected byany suitable conditioneresponsive means.

It is'wellknown in the art to provide an electronicrelay circuit operable by condition-responsive meansto actuate a mechanical orelectromagnetic relay, thereby closing an electric circuit through the associated device to be actuated; and,

itis also known in the art to provide a plurality of mechanical relays connected in parallel, as well asa plurality .of associated electronic relays, to' insure' operation of the device despite accidental inoperativeness of one of the relays.

Iii'relay systems of the above-described type, however, actuation of the associated'device sometimes occurs under improper conditions due to the fa'ctv that one of. the electronic relays, as the result. of changed 'characteristics thereof, improperly actuates the associated ,mechanical relay to,.c1o`se acircuit through the device. According-,to..the present. invention, the novel relayV system incorporates a. plurality of mechanical relays and a plurality. of electronic relays operativelyl associated therewithfor the purpose of insuringV actuation of the associated device under. the proper conditions, and moreover the novel systemisso designed that actuation of `the, asso.- ciated devicefunder vimproper conditions is substantially eliminated.

A general object of the invention is, therefore, to providear system such as above-described, which Wil1 insure dependable actuation of the associated device underatheproper conditions.

Another Vobject ofthe invention is to design a novel relay system which prevents actuation of the associated device under improper conditions as-thev-resultpf accidental change in the characteristics of one of the electronic relays.

'Iheforegoingyandother objects and advan` tages of" the invention, will become apparent from a consideration ofthe specicationv and the accompanying drawing "whichis' a schematicy circuit'diagram of 'a' relay systemembodying the invention.

Describing the invention in detail and referring to the drawing, the novel system comprises a plurality of electronic trigger tubes, such as thyratrons, indicated at 2 in the drawing. The cathode 3 and grid 5 of each tube are connected respectively to the positive and negative terminals of a bias battery 4, a grid resistor 6 being disposed between the negative terminal of the battery and the associated grid. Leads 8 and I0 vare connected to opposite ends of eachresistor" 6 'andare .adapted for connection to` the positive" and negative terminals of ani'ass'ociated' condi;- tion-responsive'd'evice (not shown) adapted to produce or vary a voltage across'the. resistor 6in response to changes in conditions, such as, for example, temperature, humidity, pressure, or radioactivity.

In the, illustrated embodiment ofthe invention, each tube 2 is adapted to be actuated orv red by independent condition-responsive means, thus insuringl proper operation of the system, as` hereinafter discussed in detail,y despite.l failure of' the means associatedr with one tube;A

however, it will be understood that, if desired, the tubes 2 may be connected,'in parallel, to av single` condition-responsive means for developing a voltage across the grid resistors 6.v

The cathode and anode of each tube 2 are connected by leads I2 and I4 to avoltage supplyV I6 through a coil I8of anassociated mechanical.

or electro-magnetic relay, generally designated. 20, and are also connected by leads 22 and 24v through a ycoil 26 of a mechanical relay, generally designated 28; and the cathode andanode of each. tube are also connectedbyleads 34 and' 36 througha coil 30 -of a mechanical relay; generally designated .32.

Thus, each mechanicalrelay has three coils operatively `connected to therespective trigger tubes. 2, and each trigger tube 2l together-with the asso: ciatedzbias battery 4 vand gridresistor G -forms` atrigger `circuitor electronic relay adapteduuponr firing to close a circuit, as hereinafter de` scribed, throughzone coil I8, one coil 2li,` and one coil' 3mi-arranged in parallel.

Each of thexmechanical relays comprises a xed...

contact' 38 and ia `movable contact 40 adapted to be actuated by `the associated coils to engage. the contact 38, thereby closing a; circuit whichv in-: y cludes an electrically.v operated device 42 and a.;

voltage supply such as a generator 44. Eachsof the mechanical relays 2li,` 281 and .32 Vis..so constructed that atleast twov of' its coilsmustfbey atmospheric f Leads I2 and I4, 22 and: 24 and 34 and 36 are connected in. parallel.v 

